Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, May 22: Local taluk panchayat (TP) member belonging to the Congress Party, Suneeta Padmanabh, who had remained absent during the voting for the post of the TP president and vice president has complained, that she was kept under illegal confinement to stop her from participating in the voting on May 19,  by a member of her own party.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday May 21, Suneeta alleged, taluk panchayat member from her own party, Purushottam Gatti had invited her to his home. "Bondala Jagannath Shetty had asked me over phone to support the candidature of Gatti for the vice-presidentship of the TP. As Gatti too called me to say that a meeting of all the TP members had been convened there, I went to his home. But I was confined in his house and Gatti, who went away, did not come back till his family members released me at 3.30 pm that day. I am pained at the fact that a woman member of my party has been deprived of the opportunity because of my absence. As I was cheated and wrongly confined, the election should be held afresh," she demanded.

Panemangalore block Congress president Chandrahas Karkera, who was present, informed that he will recommend for the expulsion of TP member Purushottam Gatti and Bondala Jagannath Shetty from the party.

Congress leaders B Padmashekhar Jain, Chandrahas Shetty Bolantoor, Ida Suresh and several others were present.

Suneeta Padmanabh has since filed a complaint in the town police station here, against Putushottam Gatti. In the meanwhile, Bondala Jagannath Shetty sought to clear his name in the episode, saying that the allegation made by Suneeta Padmanabh was false. "This is a conspiracy hatched by a few people, some of whom continue to be in the party while some others have already been expelled. It is hard to believe that Suneeta Padmanabh, who has the experience of having worked as the TP president, can be confined so easily, he noted and asked the policemen to hold detailed investigation into her allegations. He expressed doubts that Suneeta was lured into making this allegation.